A Promise kept

CHAPTER FIVE

I went to my room to change so I can start making dinner. I put on a Hoodie. Shorts. Tied a messy bun. No makeup.

"There," I told the mirror. "Now he won’t notice me."

Liar.

I could do this. I've cooked a hundred times for my family.

But I'd never cooked for Ethan.

5:05 PM.

I needed noise. Silence with Ethan in the house was worse. I grabbed my phone, hit play. Lover by Taylor Swift. Soft. Loud enough to fill the kitchen.

I've loved you three summers now, honey...

Pasta boiling. Sauce simmering. I was measuring olive oil, trying to keep my hands steady. Footsteps on the stairs. Not Luca’s heavy ones. Lighter. I didn’t hear them.

"Need help with that?" I jolted.

The olive oil bottle tipped in my hand. It didn’t shatter. But oil splashed across the counter and onto the floor.

"Shit."

"Easy."

Ethan was already moving. He grabbed paper towels, turned the music down a little.

...And I’ve loved you with a fire red...

"Sorry," he said. "Didn’t mean to startle you."

"The music was loud," I said. My heart was still pounding. He crouched to wipe the floor. I crouched too.

Our hands bumped reaching for the same spot.

Cold. His hands were cold.

"I got it," he said quietly.

He wiped in slow circles. When he stood, he was close. Too close.

"You got some on your sleeve," he said, nodding at my hoodie.

I looked down. Dark spot.

"Great."

"Thanks."

"Mm." He reached past me to turn the burner down. His arm brushed mine.

...Take me to the lake house...

The song kept playing. He leaned against the counter. Watched me stir.

"Smells good," he said.

"It’s just pasta."

"Still."

Silence. But not bad silence. Just... heavy.

5:20 PM.

He picked up a tomato. "Can I chop this?"

"Sure."

He did after washing his hands. Quiet. Efficient.

We didn’t talk. We didn’t have to.

Footsteps.

Luca came down, hair wet, in sweats. "You two alive?"

"Barely," I said.

My phone rang. CORY.

"Hello?"

"Hey Rory! Still on for Saturday?

I froze. Ethan’s knife paused mid-chop.

"Uh. Yeah. What time?"

"I can pick you up at 1PM"

"Sure."

"Perfect. Can’t wait." Click.

Silence.

Luca raised an eyebrow. "Date?"

"Yeah," I said. " With Cory." Ethan set the knife down. No slamming. Just... set it down.

"We should head out," he said. He looked at me for half a second. Then left. Front door clicked shut.

5:26 PM.

Luca sighed. Then he turned to me, serious.

"Ro."

I nodded.

"Be smart Saturday. Text me when you get home. Any problems, you call me. Or Ethan."

"Ethan doesn’t care," I whispered.

Luca’s expression softened. "Ro. He does."

He grabbed his keys.

"And for the record? This does not mean I'm letting you have a boyfriend."

"Luca!"

"What? You're still young Aurora. Don’t burn dinner. Bye, Principessa we'll be back at 8."

And he left.

5:28 PM.

I stood alone in the kitchen.

...You’re my, my, my, my lover...

Pasta boiling. Garlic bread in the oven.

And only the sauce left.